Mosul Campaign Day 59, Dec. 14, 2016

There was fierce fighting in eastern Mosul. The 9^th Division tried to recapture the Salam Hospital in the Wahda district in the southeast section of the city. It took the facility on December 6, but it turned out to be an ambush by the Islamic State and it was forced out. Reinforcements were sent to back up the division as well. The 9^th and 16^th Divisions also attacked the Quds and Karama sections, both of which have been declared freed multiple times. The Golden Division and units from the 16^th Division were surrounding the Sukar area. The Golden Division claimed it liberated that neighborhood on December 3, but that now appears to have been an exaggeration. The insurgents also launched suicide car bombs on four neighborhoods, and shelled five with mortars. An IED went off in a home as well. In total, 54 civilians were killed and 9 wounded along with 13 soldiers dying or being injured.

There was more news that the Iraqi forces (ISF) were finally going to attack southern Mosul. Units from the 20^th and 5^th Division joined the 15^th Division. In recent days the Mosul airport has been bombed and the southern neighborhoods of the city shelled. The ISF were supposed to move on the city from that direction more than a month ago, but halted being busy clearing and holding areas.

In the west the Hashd continued to move through the towns of the Tal Afar district. Four more were taken. They will continue with this work until the Iraqi army and police take Tal Afar, which does not appear to be any time soon.

There was another report on the strain the operation is putting on medical facilities in Irbil. Many of the casualties from east Mosul are being sent to that city. The governor of the province said that the hospitals are running out of supplies. He called on Baghdad to deliver some. According to the United Nations hundreds of people have gone through the city’s hospitals already so they must be stressed.

Finally, Kurdish officials continue to go back and forth on whether they will surrender the territory they have taken during the campaign. Baghdad and Irbil signed an agreement that they would give up the land, but contradictory statements are constantly given. Bas News interviewed Peshmerga commander Hamid Afandi who stated that Kurdish blood had been spilled clearing Ninewa province, so they would not retreat. This is one of many political issues that will have to be resolved after Mosul is taken.

SOURCES

Adel, Loaa, "Security forces kill IS suicide bombers who attacked 3 neighborhoods in Mosul," Iraqi News, 12/14/16

AIN, “Urgent counterterrorism liberate Kafat neighborhood on the left coast of Mosul,” 12/3/16

Al Alam, "Iraqi Forces Establish Control over Key Hospital in Western Mosul," 12/6/16

Bas News, “Erbil Running Out of Medical Supplies Due to Mosul Casualties,” 12/14/16

Al Forat, "Popular crowd destroyed four Daesh car bomb west of Tal Afar," 12/14/16

Hawrami, Karzan, “Peshmerga not Committed to Orders of Withdrawal by Baghdad: Commander,” Bas News, 12/14/16

Iraq Oil Report, “Inside Mosul, Dec. 14, 2016,” 12/14/16

- “Inside Mosul, Nov. 1, 2016,” 11/1/16

- “Inside Mosul, Nov. 5, 2016,” 11/5/16

Al Maalomah "The death of 12 civilians from one family bombed by Daesh in central Mosul," 12/14/16

Al Masalah, “Freed three neighborhoods in Mosul and two villages in Tal Afar,” 11/26/16

Mostafa, Mohamed, "5 soldiers, tens of ISIS dead in eastern Mosul battles," Iraqi News, 12/14/16

- "40 civilians killed as ISIS-security battles rage on in Mosul:newspaper," Iraqi News, 12/14/16

Rudaw, "Shiite paramilitaries say strategic town, two villages taken from ISIS west of Mosul," 12/14/16

Shafaq News, "International alliance thwarts Daesh car bomb attack in Mosul," 12/14/16

- "Killed a university professor by a bomb inside his home northeast Mosul," 12/14/16

- "Killing and injuring four civilians in the fall of Daesh mortar shells on east Mosul," 12/14/16

- “Military reinforcements arrived form the south to east Mosul in anticipation of possible attacks,” 12/14/16

Xinhua, “Iraqi forces free more districts in eastern Mosul,” 11/4/16